Zürich is a modern town with a historic heart in the center. The city is a perfect blend of contemporary office buildings and historic housing from many different epochs, such as Baroque, classicism, and Gothic. On days with good weather conditions and perfectly blue skies, Zürich shines and shows off its variety and history while still remaining relevant in the modern world.
The city of Zürich is the largest town in Switzerland, situated in the heart of the country. Albeit not the formal capital, Zürich is the economic center of the country and constitutes the most crucial transportation hub. Moreover, it is a rich city with a rich a wide range of cultural venues and a high quality of life overall.
The European Alps have countless valleys, plateaus, mountain ranges, and lakes. It is a vast landscape covering large parts of Central Europe. In between this, streams make their way through the gorges and passes. Some of them, such as the Sigmund-Thun-Klamm close to Kaprun, can be visited. Wooden walkways span this gorge, surmounting several waterfalls. The network of walking trails in the Alps is rich and far-reaching. It traverses all the different terrains, so the region can be experienced from all different perspectives and habitats.
A couple of months ago, I had the chance to travel to a part of Central Europe I hadn’t been to before. The initial plan was to travel around Northern Bohemia in the Czech Republic. At last, we ventured into the neighboring region of Southern Saxonia, too, as the borderlands are historically and geologically intertwined. The area is shaped by the Elbe River, one of the longest in Europe. Along the river, you’ll find many towns; some are charming and touristy, while others are more industrial in nature (pictures 2, 3, 6). The highlight is the magnificent landscape shaped by sandstone (picture 5). Climb one of the many mountaintops around sunset and enjoy the fantastic view (last photo).
Most people know Lisbon is situated on the shore of the Atlantic Ocean; it is not so widely known, though, that the longest river of the Iberian peninsula floats through the city (technically, on the side of it). While definitely not a recommendable place to swim, a walk at the Tejo (or Tajo, as the Spanish say) has its merits – particularly for modern architecture enthusiasts. The Vasco da Gama tower (1,10, last picture) is a prime example. But the most exciting sight, majestic and intriguing simultaneously, is the Vasco da Gama bridge (2, 6, 8, 9, 11, 14). Spanning over 17 km, it is the longest bridge in Europe. The slight couverture of the structure allows for interesting photographic angles. I’ll invite you for a walk.
A couple of shots from the last months.
Michael Hoffman Photography 